Pre OA Societies
Keokuk

Keokuk Honor Campers Society Boy Scouts of America 1936 - 1941

This honor camper program existed at Camp Teetonkah in the Land-O-Lakes Council, at Jackson, Michigan. It is believed to have been created in 1936 and lasted until Teetonkah Lodge #206 was organized in 1941. Keokuk was reactivated at the camp in 1943 because the OA lodge didn't have enough members to support the camp. Camp Teetonkah was built in 1913 making it tied with Treasurer Island as the second oldest scout camp in the nation. Only Camp Owasippe in Whitehall, Michigan (1911) is older. The patch was a twill tipi with crossed golden arrows. Pictures of the ceremonial regalia show the crossed arrows. According to a news clipping, "The Keokuk's aim is to encourage respect at camp for the boy Scout laws and to stress a scout byword - service".  The Tribe of Keokuk also existed at Canyon Camp in the U.S. Grant Council by the Illinois-Wisconsin border. It is known to have existed there in the 1950's but the starting and ending dates are unknown. The patch was identical to the one used at Camp Teetonkah. Canyon Camp is now part of the Blackhawk Area Council.